Method of frezing desserts, and apparatus



I. RECHTIN METHOD OF FREEZING DESSERTS AND APPARATUS Filed 001:. 17, 1954 lllfl INVENTOR Jda 7am; BY

TTORNEYlS.

Fan. 28,, 1936.

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF FREEZING DESSERTS, AND APPARATUS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the freezing of icecream and the like, and is found both in method and in apparatus. It may be enjoyed as accessory to and as an adjunct to a modern, mechanically operated, domestic refrigerator. The object of the invention is to provide automatic agitation or stirring of ice-cream mixtures while being frozen in a domestic refrigerator. Further objects are simplicity and efficiency in service.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. I is a fragmentary and diagrammatic view in vertical section through a domestic refrigerator, showing in assembly therewith the apparatus in which and in the operation of which my invention may be realized. Fig. 11 is a view to larger scale, showing in perspective the container of my invention with its lid. Figs. III and IV are views in plan from above, and in vertical and transverse section of a modification in lid structure. Fig. V is a view in front elevation of the .driving means for oscfllating the container. Fig. VI is a view in transverse section of the lid of the container, in the plane indicated at VIVI, Fig. II.

Within a refrigerator l, and upon a horizontal support 2, rests the container 3. Container 3 is a long shallow pan-like structure, adapted to contain and sustain'in pool-like form a body of liquid to be frozen. By way of example, this container may be 11% inches long, 5 inches wide, and 1 inches deep. It is provided with a tight-fitting lid 4. The container is provided beneath at the center point in its bottom with an outstanding stud or button 5, advantageously of rubber, which immediately bears upon the support 2 and upon which as a fulcrum the container may be oscillated vertically.

Externally upon the refrigerator I an electric motor 6 is mounted. Upon the shaft 1 of the motor an eccentric disk 8 is borne. A connecting rod 9, extending through a guide bushing l0 set vertically in the top wall of the refrigerator is connected above to a strap l I that surrounds the eccentric disk 8 (with suitable anti-friction members between), and it is connected below to the container 3. By such means the container may be oscillated rapidly. The attachment of the rod 9 to the tray is effected by means of a foot 90 on the rod, and a stirrup l2 on the pan-such structure lending itself to easy separation and reunion.

The lid of the container is provided internally with downwardly extending drip-promoting protrusions. These may be afforded by die pressing (or casting) the metal lid, to such shape as is particularly illustrated in Figs. III and IV, or they may be afforded as fins l3 attached to the plane sheet of which the lid, as shown in Figs. If and III, is formed, or they may be otherwise formed, to suit the quality of liquid used, or to obtain advantages in manufacture. The advantage possessed by the protrusions of Figs. III and IV is that the splashed-back liquid is more widely scattered by the rounded surfaces.

- The fins I3 of Fig. II are, as will be observed, of increasing breadth in the course of their extent, their free edges are accordingly inclined, and they have the effect of causing the liquid that has by oscillation been splashed upon them to run toward one end. It will be understood that ordinarily the range of oscillation is through a very slight space interval and that the increase in the breadth of the fins in the course of their extent may readily be of such magnitude that, throughout the range of oscillation, the inclination of the free edge of the fin is constantly from one end (the right-hand end, Fig. II) toward the opposite left-hand end. Since in the installation immediately in view, the cooling effect is more intense at the inner end (the right-hand end, Fig. I), the advantage is gained of setting up a tendency to circulation of the splashed material toward the less cold end of the container. The fins l3 are preferably interrupted in their continuity, being slit transversely into sections and the successive sections are bent aside, first in one direction, then in the other. By such minute provisions the drip-back is distributed, though the tendency prevails, to advance to regions of higher temperature.

In operation the container is filled incompletely. The amount of material introduced may be varied, but best results are gained if the container is filled not greatly more than two thirds full. The material is introduced; the container is closed, and assembled as shown in Fig. I; and the refrigerator is closed. The motor then is set in motion, and the container with its spread-out shallow pool of liquid is set in minute and rapid vertical oscillation-a condition that promotes in fullest measure simultaneity of congealing throughout the mass, together with that breaking up of the crystals as they form, to produce smoothness of product. The temperature of the atmosphere enveloping the container within the refrigerator is below freezing; and under such conditions the material is frozen.

As congealing occurs the crystals are constantly broken, and the result is an ice-cream (or the like) of finest grain and smoothest quality.

There is no dasher to be removed, nor any loss of'material such as is incident to the removal of the dasher from an ordinary freezer.

The hardness of the frozen product may be minutely controlled and regulated. j

By virtuejof the separability of the oscillating means the container may be used for freezing such material as mousse, for example, without oscillation, or it may be otherwise used.

By virtue of the superior texture of product it is not necessary to provide in the mixture to be frozen such texture-modifying ingredients as gelatine and beaten egg-white. Thus, in the enjoyment of my inyentiomrecipes may be simplified.

Advantageously, a partition 30 is'included in the tray 3, to provide in service an air chamber 3| which permits circulation of cold air around the forward end of the container, with the consequence and effect that transmission of heat from the parts 9 and I 2 to the mixture is minimized, it being understood that the parts 9 and I2 may not foe subject to the same degree of cold as the tray. W

Elie apparatus is simple and easily kept clean, non is its use attended with dripping or spilling of material. I N

finder the term ice-cream I include frozen desserts generally,-ice-cream properly so called, sherbet, water-ice, etc.

I claim as my invention:

i. The method herein described of freezing icecream and the like which consists in spreading a body of liquid to be frozen in a shallow pool of a depth less than its length and breadth, subjecting the pool of liquid to freezing temperature, and, while such temperature condition continues, setting up within the body of liquid and throughout all its extent an oscillatory movement in the direction of its depth.

2. In an ice-cream freezer a cooling chamber, an elongate receptacle arranged within the chamber, supported froni beneath at an intermediate point in its extent and adapted to be oscillated upon such'point as a fulcrum, andmeans for oscillating said receptacle.

3. In an ice-cream freezer a cooling chamber, a receptacle mounted for vertical oscillation within the chamber, said receptacle including a ho:-

izontally extending'lid havingdcwnwardly projecting drip-promoting protrusions, and means for oscillating said receptacle.

4. In an ice-cream freezer a receptacle mounted for vertical oscillation including a shallow, horizontally extending container equipped with a removable horizontally extending lid, said lid 1;; increasing height, means for maintaining a freezing atmosphere enveloping said container, and means for oscillating said container. 7

6. In an ice-cream freezer a c'iosed receptacle for a pool of mixture to be frozen of relatively small depth and relatively great length and breadth, means for oscillating said receptacle vertically, means for maintaining a freezing atmosphere enveloping said container and of greator intensity at one end ;than at the other, and means for causing splashed material to move in a direction longitudinally of: the pool from that end of the receptacle at which the enveloping atmosphere is of greater freezing intensity toward the other end before dripping back into the pool.

'7. The methodl herein described of freezing icecream and the like which consists in spreading a body of liquid to; be frozen in a shallow pool of a depth lless than its length and breadth, subjecting the pool of liquidnto freezing temperature of greater intensity atuone end than at the other, and while such .temperature conditions.

continuesetting upwithin the body of liquid and throughout all its extent an oscillatory movement in the direction of its. depth and a cireulatory movement longitudinally of the pool.

1 IDA RECH'I'IN. 

